Wait ends, Srinagar flyover phase II inauguration today

fat Mohidin

Srinagar, May 21

After a long wait, the second phase of Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover will be thrown open for vehicular traffic today. It will be inaugurated by J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik.

For the past four years, residents were waiting for the flyover to get complete. With the second phase to be thrown open tomorrow, people are overjoyed, as Eid is also near, which may provide them some relief from traffic congestion. “Traffic congestion has been a big problem for everyone. With flyover’s second phase being inaugurated today, it will come as a big relief,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Rawalpora, Srinagar. The second phase of the flyover stretch covering 1.04 km from Rambagh to Alochi Bagh has been constructed at a cost of Rs37.5 crore.

The officials from the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) said: “It is expected to result in substantial traffic relief to commuters travelling from areas across this stretch towards Lal Chowk. It will reduce travel time between the said areas from 15 minutes to 1 minute.” In the first phase, one way traffic was allowed towards Rambagh.

The flyover will come as a big relief for students, employees and common people, as it will save time.

“We are waiting for it to be thrown open, as it will save a lot of time. Earlier, it used to take hours together to reach our destination and we used to get stuck in traffic jams. Roads, too, are in a pathetic condition,” said Razia Ashraf, a student. The second phase of the flyover, officials say, would prove a major traffic decongestant on grade roads underneath it, including Rambagh, Solina and Alochi Bagh. It is also expected to significantly reduce stagnation on the important Rambagh Bridge, officials said.

ERA spokesperson Muhammad Azhar said work on small portion is pending and the flyover would be fully thrown open to public soon.

Missed several deadlines

• After the start of its construction in 2013, the flyover has missed several deadlines, thus hitting traffic badly in the summer capital
• The first phase of the flyover was thrown open for traffic last year from Barzulla to Gogji Bagh, which was inaugurated by the then CM Mehbooba Mufti
• The flyover project has six access ramps — Jehangir Chowk, Indoor Sports Stadium, Alochi Bagh, Rambagh, Zum Zum complex Natipora and MET station Barzulla
• The total estimated cost of the flyover is Rs 369 crore 
• Through ERA, the project is being executed by Simplex Limited, project contractor